Renovation: The Jeanne Marie

By Peter Canning

Before: Exterior

I grew up in a boating family, but didn't have a boat as an adult until I purchased this project boat in 2005. I wanted to keep my hands busy and have a boat for cruising, diving, and waterskiing. I bid on boats that met my criteria, mostly on eBay, and this is the one I won, based on one photo!

Before: Interior

I took my son out of high school for the day, drove up to Cape Cod to bring her home, and have been working on her ever since.

During: Interior

I renamed her Jeanne Marie; stripped out the interior and foam; built the deck, bulkheads, and fuel-tank enclosures out of fiberglass panels; reset all glass; painted her; replaced the trailer, engine and steering; and installed new electronics.

After: Interior

She's definitely not a showboat, but she turns a lot of heads. I'm looking at mermaid and name graphics for the cabin side panels.

After: Exterior

She serves as a patrol boat in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and has also been a research vessel for Suffolk County, mapping the bottom of Lake Ronkonkoma.